Stauffer struggles late in Padres' loss to Royals

Reliever gives up four eighth-inning runs; Hundley homers

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Hot-hitting Nick Hundley belted a two-run homer in the first inning, but the Padres couldn't hold an early lead and lost to the Royals, 7-5, in a split-squad Cactus League game on Friday at Surprise Stadium.

The win improved the Royals' record to 16-2-1 after the first game of their day-night doubleheader.

Left-hander Will Smith had his roughest outing for the Royals, yielding five runs in four innings. Hundley tagged him for his homer in the first inning although all three runs in the inning were unearned.

"It was a first-pitch fastball, I was just trying to get a strike," Smith said. "It was up, belt-high and he did what he was supposed to do with it -- crushed it."

Hundley, who has a .469 (15-for-32) average, boosted his RBI total to seven in 12 games.

"I came in with a lot of confidence with the work I put in the offseason, but it's nice to see the results," Hundley said. "At the same time, if the results weren't there I'd still have confidence in my swing. Results, no doubt, are a nice thing as well."

The Royals' third error, by Smith, also made one of two runs in the third inning unearned.

Behind 5-0, the Royals came back with three runs against Padres starter Jason Marquis in the third inning. David Lough contributed a double, his second hit, and he finished the day with a .548 (17-for-31) average. Lorenzo Cain had a two-run single and Brandon Wood contributed an RBI single.

Luke Hochevar made his first appearance since being switched to the Royals' bullpen on Wednesday and worked two perfect innings.

After Minor Leaguers took over the Royals' lineup, they wiped out the Padres' 5-3 lead by batting around in a four-run eighth inning. Most of the damage came against Tim Stauffer, pitching his third inning. Paulo Orlando started the rally with a double, Alex Llanos belted a two-run double and Angel Franco added a run-scoring single.

"They all did a great job," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "When you give those kids an opportunity, it's big. It's experience for them and to do what they did today was exciting for me. This is as excited as I've been all Spring Training just to see those kids have success and to come back and win a ballgame like that."

Up next: The Padres face the D-backs at 1:05 p.m. PT on Saturday at the Peoria Sports Complex, live on Gameday Audio. This will be another chance for pitcher Tyson Ross to separate himself from the rest of the candidates for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation. Ross, who is scheduled to go four or five innings, hasn't allowed a run in each of his last two appearances, both spanning three innings. Prospect Donn Roach, he of the advanced sinker, will follow Ross and will likely throw three innings.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.